we just received testimony from herb herbert allison about this report -- from herb allison. we would be anxious to hear any thoughts you have on the same subject. then i'm sure the senators will of questions -- will have questions. >> thank you. thank you for the opportunity to discuss the efforts to strengthen our loan programs and to grow americas clean energy economy. the department has cooperated with congress' request to discuss our loan portfolio. mr. allison released a thoughtful report. he made some important recommendations. we took steps, many of which consistent with the recommendations to improve the loan program. this includes working to make sure our team has the number of personnel to manage the portfolio and to protect u.s. taxpayers. we continue to improve processes for monitoring loan administration compliance, reporting, and resolution capabilities. we have put in place reviews to hold the loan of as accountable. the department takes is seriously.is mr. allison looked at the risk factors behind each loan an estimated each loan's costs. the federal credit r

herbert allison, is a good first step, and i think this hearing mostest in the right direction. the program can serve a valuable purpose. right now, we have to know if the loans and the loan guarantees that have been issued through them are as effective as we had all hoped they would be. we still have tough decisions to make, and i hope we learn enough to make sure those decisions are fully informed. thank you, mr. allison, and mr. chairman. >> thank you. mr. herbert allison is the author of the "report of the independent consultant's review with respect to the department of energy loan and loan guarantee portfolio." we appreciate your good work on that report, and we look forward to your describing it to us and making any other comments before we ask questions. thank you. >> thank you, chairman bingaman, ranking member murkowski, and members of the committee. i was appointed by the chief of staff of white house to study the department of energy portfolio of loans and guarantees to clean energy projects. i was asked to evaluate the current status of the portfolio, proposed ways

we'll also hear from herbert allison, the former treasury department official who was chosen to leadhe white house commissioned review of the program, and that begins at 10 a.m. on c-span. over on c-span3, the generals responsible for security operations in north, central and south america will testify before the senate armed services committee about their 2013 budget requests. and that gets under way at 9:30 a.m. eastern. >>> the senate today continues work on the highway and surface transportation bill that would extend programs for two yearses. senate majority leader harry reid said he expected to debate and vote on a number of amendments today with completion of the bill expected sometime this week. the house is out this week. speaker john boehner has said that he'd hold a vote on the senate-passed bill or something like it if members fail to agree to a house version. you can watch live coverage of the u.s. senate on c-span2 at 10 a.m. eastern. >>> three years after receiving government funds to stay afloat, general motors reported a profit of $7.6 billion in 2011, its most profi